Ceiling fuse-block



imp? E O Model.)

B. E. ERIGKSON. CEILING FUSE BLOCK.

No. 427.062. Patented May'6. 1890.

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ATENT Enron.

ERICK E. ERIOKSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS CEILING FUSE-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,062, dated May 6, 1890.

Application filed February 26, 1890. Serial No. 341,828. (No model.)

T0 to whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERICK E. ERICKSON, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Electric Cut-Outs, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

It is now common in electric lighting to attach incandescent lamps to wires leading from a movable block which is attached to a stationary block secured to a wall, ceiling, or other desirable place, said movable block having contact-pieces which engage contactpieces on the stationary block to complete the circuit. Such devices have been provided With means for rigidly holding the line-wires to insure a good contact, and among other connections employed for this purpose setscrews have been used, which are objectionable, because they sever the line-wires, and, furthermore, the openings to the line-wire supports have been on the under side, so that if the set-screws become loosened by jar or otherwise the linewires would leave the supports.

This invention has for its object to provide an electric cut-out of this kind, and frequently termed a rosette or pendent cut-out, with means for holding the line-wires firmly to insure a good contact, and at the same time not sever the wire, the means being such that the device may be quickly removed from and attached to the wires.

The invention therefore consists in details of construction to be hereinafter pointed out and claimed.

Figure 1 shows in side elevation a cut-out embodying this invention; Fig. 2, aplan view of the stationary part or member of the cutout; Figs. 3, 4, and 5, enlarged details of contact-pieces, to be referred to; and Fig. 6, an under side view of the movable member of the cut-out.

The removable member a of the pendent cut-out has on its under side contact-blocks a a and also conducting-plates b b, and fuse-wires b 12 connecting the conductingplates respectively with the contact-blocks. The electric wires 2 3 lead from the conducting-plates b b to the lamp. The stationary member 0 of the cut=out is recessed to receive the removable member or block a, and is provided with line-wire connections at each side. These line-wire connections are substantially alike, each comprising a block d having a hole or passage through it from end to end, and having rigidly secured to or formed as a part of it a hook d, which projects outwardly beyond the periphery of the block 0, and which is employed to support the wire, and also an independent contact-plate d in the block d, and resting on the shank of the hook d. The plate d is accessible at the rear side or inner end of the hollow block 61, so that by pressing against the plate it may be pushed outward to pinch the line-wire supported on or by the hook. The contact-plate d is preferably provided with a spring (1 one end of which is attached to it and the other end to the hook d, or it may be to the block (1, which is compressed when the contact-plate d is forced into contact with the line-wire, said spring acting to restore the said plate to its normal position when end pressure against the said plate (1 is removed. The contactplates a on the under side of the removable block a are substantially alike, but are secured to the block end for end. The contactplate a (see Figs. 5 and 6) comprises a flat base or portion 7, having suitable holes through it, by which it may be attached to the block a, and also an outwardly-extended flange 5, slightly elevated above the plane of the base 7, the outer curved edge or acting face of which is formed eccentric to the center of theblock a. -When the removable block a is placed in the recess of the stationary block 0, this flange 5 bears against the inner end of the movable contact-plate (Z and as the said block a is turned in one direction the said flange 5 forces the said contact-plate d outward radially against the line-wire 10, which is placed in the hook d. The contactplate a has a downwardly-extended lip or .projection 6 at one end, to assist in supporting it, and, furthermore, to serve as a limiting-stop to limit the rotation of the block in one direction, although the wire in the hook ordinarily limits such movement. The contact-block a is made substantially the same as the block a it being arranged on the block to opposite the contact-plate a and end for end, so that as the block a is turned the flange 5 of the contact-block a will act against and move the contact-plate d outwardly at the opposite side of the block 0, or, in other words, the two movable contact-plates for pinching the line-wires are moved outwardly simultaneously, when the movable block a is placed in the recess of the stationary block 0 and turned a part of a revolution in one direction. The contact-plates 61 may be moved as far radially from the center of the block as desired, so as to pinch the line-wire 10; but under no circumstances can. the line-wire be severed with the form of contactplate shown. Most of the parts are contained within the block 0, and the hook is in reality the only part observed when the device is in use, and this part is not unsightly. This hook and the radiallyunovable contact-plates constitute the line-wire connections.

Referring again to the hook d, it will be seen that the opening to it is from above, so that if by any reason the contact-plates 61 should release their hold or cease to pinch the line-wire the said line-wire will still be held.

WVhen the cut-out is at the end of the line, some means must be provided for holding the line-Wire, so as to relieve the contact-plates Z d of the strain,andhencelhaveprovided the block (Z with a projection f, (see Fig. 3,) to which is attached a binding-postf of usual construction, and the end of the line-wire can beheld firmly by this means.

I claim-- 1. In a cut-out of the kind described, the block 0, having line-wire connections, substantially as described, the movable members of which are moved radially, combined with having two contact-plates, each having a flange, the outer curved edge of which is cocentric to the center of the block a, said flanges moving the said line-wire eon tact-plates to engage the line-Wire, substantially as described.

In a cut-out of the kind described, the u stationary block and hooks with openings thereto on the side adjacent the base of the block for supporting the line-wire, combined with contact-plates and means carried by a removable block for moving said contactplates to engage the linewire, substantially as described.

4. In a cut-out of the kind described, the stationary block and line-wire-supporting hooks, movable contact-plates, and guideblocks therefor, combined with a removable block and contact-pieces carried by it for establishing electrical connection with the said movable contact-plates, and also for moving them substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERICK. E. ERIOKSON.

\Vitnesses:

JAs. H. CHURCHILL, FREDERICK L. EMERY. 

